Maroubra vs South Coogee, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Maroubra and South Coogee are both Randwick rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 9.1 km and 8.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
South Coogee runs $568 a year cheaper than Maroubra, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,512.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,500, about $13 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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South Coogee
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Maroubra | South Coogee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,723 | $1,723 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,818 | $2,600 | +$218 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,500 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,939 | $7,371 | +$568 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,041 | $6,691 | +$350 |
Totals exclude electricity, estimated separately below. Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance estimated from ACCC premium rates; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Maroubra | South Coogee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for each suburb's electricity network, including supply charge (AER Default Market Offer caps, or the QCA price in regional Queensland; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown, Maroubra vs South Coogee (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Maroubra and South Coogee differ by $568 a year by car, but $350 of that is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On the sourced costs, council rates, water and the commute, the gap is $218, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Maroubra carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $7,041 from Maroubra versus $6,691 from South Coogee.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,723 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours South Coogee by $218 a year, $2,600 against $2,818.
- Building insurance favours South Coogee by $350 a year, $1,500 against $1,850.
Both suburbs sit in the same council area, so the rates line is identical and none of the difference between them comes from council. What separates them is commute distance and the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated medium in Maroubra against low in South Coogee, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.4 in South Coogee against 7.4 in Maroubra, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Maroubra cumulative | South Coogee cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,939 | $7,371 | $568 |
| Year 3 | $24,539 | $22,783 | $1,756 |
| Year 5 | $42,149 | $39,134 | $3,015 |
| Year 10 | $91,012 | $84,500 | $6,512 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Maroubra or South Coogee cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Maroubra runs $7,939 a year by car and South Coogee $7,371, but most of the $568 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $218. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Maroubra and South Coogee?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,723 in Maroubra (Randwick rates (OLG) and $1,723 in South Coogee (Randwick rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Maroubra and $1,548 in South Coogee. Both figures are the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by each council's IPART rate peg.
How does the commute cost compare between Maroubra and South Coogee?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,818 from Maroubra and $2,600 from South Coogee to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Maroubra and $1,920 from South Coogee.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Maroubra and South Coogee?
At 3% annual cost growth, Maroubra costs a cumulative $91,012 and South Coogee costs $84,500 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,512 in favour of South Coogee. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Maroubra and South Coogee suits you better?
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Sources: Randwick rates (OLG and Randwick rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.